Ignition system including electronic detonators

ABSTRACT

An ignition system includes electronic detonators and signalling devices. Each signalling device is associated with one electronic detonator and allows the presence of the electronic detonator with which it is associated to be signalled. The ignition system further includes an image capture device that is designed and positioned to capture images depicting the signalling devices. Use to verify the presence of electronic detonators on a worksite.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/FR2019/050344 filed Feb. 15, 2019 which designated the U.S. and claims priority to French Application No. 1851350 filed Feb. 16, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a firing system comprising electronic detonators.

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Description of the Related Art

The invention finds its application in the field of pyrotechnic initiation, in any sector in which a set of one or more electronic detonators must conventionally be implemented. Typical examples concern the exploitation of mines, quarries, seismic exploration, and the sector of building construction and public works.

On installing the firing system on the worksite or plot, each electronic detonator is installed in a location arranged to receive them. These locations are for example holes bored in the ground.

In practice, an operator goes to the worksite and positions an electronic detonator in each location provided for that purpose.

In order to fire the electronic detonators, as well as carry out test operations preceding the firing, it may be useful to know the position of each electronic detonator.

Firing systems are known in which, to know the position of the electronic detonators in a worksite, the geographical coordinates of the electronic detonators are collected. The collection of the geographical coordinates of the electronic detonators may give rise either to high expenses on account of the presence of a GPS receiving device associated with each electronic detonator, or large amounts of time in which the operators are present on the worksite to perform the collection.

Furthermore, this type of firing system cannot be used in certain worksites, such as underground worksites.

In addition, the proper operation of this type of firing system depends on the proper operation of satellites dedicated to the geopositioning system used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to solving at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks and to providing an alternative firing system that can make it possible to perceive the presence of electronic detonators.

To that end, according to a first aspect, the invention concerns a firing system comprising electronic detonators and signaling devices, each signaling device being associated with an electronic detonator and making it possible to signal the presence of the electronic detonator with which it is associated. The firing system further comprises an image acquisition device designed and positioned for acquiring images representing signaling devices.

The image acquisition device is thus able to take images of a worksite with signaling devices indicating the presence of the electronic detonators with which they are associated, at their respective location.

Signaling devices are represented in the image obtained by the image acquisition device, each signaling device signaling the presence of an electronic detonator. Thus, the position of each electronic detonator in a worksite can be known, this being without having to use supplementary means not belonging to the firing system.

The signaling devices are positioned so as to be perceptible to the image acquisition device in order to enable the presence of the electronic detonators to be signaled.

It will be noted that the image acquisition device can be the human eye, this is being able to perform the acquiring of an image with signaling devices indicating the presence of the electronic detonators.

According to a feature, the signaling device comprises an active device emitting a signal indicating the presence of an electronic detonator with which it is associated.

According to a feature, the signaling device emits a visible signal.

A visible signal is defined as a signal that can be seen by the human eye. A visible signal may for example be a light signal.

Thus, this visible signal may be acquired by an image acquisition device and seen by the human eye.

The visible signal indicates the presence of an electronic detonator at a location.

According to a feature, the active device is an infrared emitter.

The image acquired by the image acquisition device is thus an infrared image.

According to a feature, the signaling device comprises a passive device comprising identification information of the electronic detonator with which it is associated.

According to a feature, the passive device comprises a barcode.

For example, the barcode can be one- or two-dimensional such as a QR code or a Data Matrix code.

According to one embodiment, each signaling device is connected to conducting wires connecting the electronic detonator with which it is associated, to a firing line.

For example, the signaling device can be integrated into a connector connecting the electronic detonator to the firing line.

According to another embodiment, the signaling device is positioned on a module associated with the electronic detonator with which the signaling device is associated, the module being external to the electronic detonator.

Still other particularities and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a firing system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an example of a worksite.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 represents a firing system 1 comprising a set of electronic detonators 2. Each electronic detonator 2 is connected to a firing line 3, the firing line 3 being connected to a control unit 4.

In FIG. 1, the electronic detonators 2 are directly connected to the firing line 3, however in general, sub-sets of electronic detonators 2 are respectively connected to bus lines (not shown), the bus lines being connected to the firing line 3.

In the embodiment represented, each electronic detonator 2 is connected to the firing line 3 by means of conducting wires 5. The connection of the conducting wires 5 to the firing line 3 is made by means of the connectors 6.

In other embodiments (not shown), the electronic detonators are connected to the control unit (for example to a firing control unit and/or a programming unit) by wireless means.

In general, on a worksite, several sets of detonators 2 are respectively connected to several control units 4.

The control unit 4 is a firing control unit designed to implement the firing operations of the electronic detonators 2 as well as perform test operations to check the proper operation of each electronic detonator 2 before carrying out the firing. The firing control unit 4 can also perform programming operations of the electronic detonators 2.

The firing system 1 can further comprise a programming unit (not shown in the drawings) designed to dialog with the electronic detonators 2 and with the firing control unit 4. This programming unit can have different functions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the firing system 1 further comprises a set of signaling devices 10. Each signaling device 10 is associated with an electronic detonator 2 and makes it possible to signal the presence of the electronic detonator 2 with which it is associated.

It will be noted that the electronic detonator 2, once installed at the location (for example a hole bored in the ground), is not visible on the worksite, and that the signaling device 10 associated with each electronic detonator 2 is visible on the worksite such that determining the position of the electronic detonator 2 on the worksite, at least approximately, is possible. In this document, determining the position of a detonator is equivalent to determining the position of the associated signaling device.

A signaling device is thus defined as any device making it possible to signal the presence of an electronic detonator at a location. The signaling device is thus situated at a location that is visible on the worksite. For example, if the electronic detonator is in a hole bored in the ground, the signaling device is situated on the ground. If the detonator is in a hole bored in a wall, the signaling device is situated on the outside surface of the wall.

In the illustrated embodiment, the signaling device 10 is connected to the conducting wires 5 connecting the electronic detonators 2 to the firing line 3 at the location of the connector 6.

It will be noted tat the signaling device 10 is thus connected to the electronic detonator with which it is associated.

The signaling device 10 may be supplied which electrical energy via the firing line 3.

In another embodiment not shown, each signaling device is positioned on an external module associated with the electronic detonator 2 with which it is associated. The signaling device may also be integrated with or connected to that external module.

For example, the connectors may be equipped with a signaling device.

Of course, the signaling devices may be integrated with or located in other modules associated with the electronic detonators.

In one embodiment, each signaling device 10 comprises an active device indicating the presence of an electronic detonator.

In the described embodiment, the active device emits a signal indicating the presence of the electronic detonator 2. In this embodiment, the signal is a visible signal, for example a light signal.

In the represented embodiment, the signaling device comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED) emitting a visible signal enabling the presence of an electronic detonator 2 to be indicated.

Of course, other types of signaling devices may be used in the firing system.

For example, in in another embodiment, the active device is an infrared emitter.

In an embodiment not represented, the signaling device making it possible to signal the presence of an electronic detonator comprises a passive device encoding for example identification information of the electronic detonator, such as a barcode having one or two dimensions.

The firing system 1 further comprises an image acquisition device 20 designed for acquiring images representing the signaling devices 10. The image acquisition device 20 comprises an apparatus capturing images or sequences of images or video, such as a stills camera or video camera.

The image acquisition device may furthermore be the human eye. As a matter of fact, the signaling devices 10 may be seen by an operator in the worksite.

The image acquisition device 20 enables the acquisition of images with a resolution configured for viewing the signaling devices 10 or a signal emitted by the signaling device 10.

The image acquisition device 20 may be a device independent from the other components making up the firing system 1 (as represented in FIG. 1) or be integrated into a component of the firing system 1.

For example, the image acquisition device may be integrated into the firing control unit or into a programming unit.

In other embodiments, the image acquisition apparatus may be integrated into a mobile device such as a remotely controlled vehicle for example a drone.

The image acquisition device 20 is configured and positioned to acquire images (FIG. 2) of the worksite with signaling devices 10. In other words, in the described embodiment, the image acquisition device 20 is configured for the acquisition of an image of the worksite 100 (FIG. 2) in which the presence of at least one electronic detonator 2 is represented. In the described embodiment, the presence and the position of the electronic detonators are represented thanks to the visible signal emitted by the signaling device 10.

It will be noted that the signaling devices 10 are located so as to be visible to the image acquisition device 20.

In the described embodiment, as the signaling devices 20 emit a visible signal, the image acquisition device 20 is designed to acquire the signals emitted by the signaling devices 10.

In practice, in this embodiment, the image acquisition device 20 captures images with a light signal associated with each electronic detonator 2.

In the case of a signaling device comprising an infrared emitter, the image acquisition device is configured for the acquiring of infrared images. In one embodiment in which the signaling device is passive (or comprises a passive device), the device for acquiring the data is designed for image taking of these signaling devices distributed over the worksite.

In one embodiment, the image acquisition apparatus 20 can be positioned at a determined location such that the all the signaling devices in the worksite can be acquired.

In the described embodiment, the image acquisition apparatus 20 is placed such that the signals emitted by all the signaling devices 10 in the worksite can be acquired.

The location at which the image acquisition device 20 is positioned is determined according to the worksite in which the firing system is installed.

In other embodiments, the image acquisition device 20 can be positioned at a determined location to take partial images of the worksite. A complete image of the worksite may be constructed from the partial images.

For example a stills camera or video camera can adapt its field of view in order to take partial images of the worksite while remaining at the same location.

In other embodiments, the image acquisition device 20 can be successively located at different predetermined locations to take a set of partial images of the site for the reconstruction of an image of the entirety of the site. Thus, according to embodiments, the image acquisition device 20 is positioned to acquire images which some of the signaling devices 10 or with all the signaling devices 10 present on the worksite.

It will be noted that the image acquisition device 20 can be used in a fixed or mobile manner. In other words, the image acquisition device 20 can be positioned at a determined location, either to capture images of the entirety of the worksite, or partial images of the worksite (this is use of the image acquisition device 20 in a fixed way).

The image acquisition device 20 can also capture partial images of the worksite from different locations (this is mobile use of the image acquisition device 20).

By way of example that is in no way limiting, if the image acquisition device 20 is integrated into the firing control unit 4, the firing control unit 4 is positioned such that the image of the worksite with the signaling devices 10 can be acquired. In this case, the image acquisition device 20 is in a fixed position.

If the image acquisition device 20 is integrated into a programming unit, the image acquisition device 20 is mobile.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates an image 100 representing a worksite in which the electronic detonators 2 are positioned. Each electronic detonator 2 is positioned at a location 101.

The image 100 was taken by the image acquisition device 20. It will be noted that, as indicated above, this image acquisition device 20 has features according to the type of signaling devices 10 associated with the electronic detonators 2. The image acquisition device 20 is thus configured to take an image 100 in which the signaling devices 10 are represented.

As indicated above, according to an embodiment, partial images of the worksite can be taken by the image acquisition device. These partial images can be used to reconstruct a complete image of the worksite. The reconstruction of an image of a worksite is implemented by methods that are known and are not described in this document.

In the case of a signaling device such as that shown in FIG. 1, if the electronic detonators 2 are properly connected to the firing line 3, the signaling device 10 can emit a signal indicating the presence of an electronic detonator 2.

It will be noted that in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the signaling device 10 signals the presence of an electronic detonator 2 with which it is associated if the electronic detonator 2 is correctly connected to the firing line 3. Thus, for example if the signaling device is active, a signal is emitted only if the detonator is correctly connected to the firing line.

In one embodiment in which the signaling device is active (or comprises an active device), the signaling device emits a signal when the electronic detonator receives a command coming from a control unit.

In one embodiment, the command sent to an electronic detonator 2 is nominative, that is to say that it solely concerns that detonator 2. In other words, an electronic detonator receiving a nominative command concerning it responds to that command, the other detonators receiving that command not responding to the command.

In another embodiment, the command can be non nominative, any detonator receiving that command emitting a signal.

Once an image of the worksite has been obtained, the position of the electronic detonators can be determined.

The firing system 1 may further comprise determining means (not represented in the drawings) of the position of the locations receiving the electronic detonators 2.

These determining means use the images acquired by the image acquisition device 20 to determine the positions of the signaling devices 10 associated with the electronic detonators 2.

The determining means comprise electronic modules designed to receive, store and process the images acquired by the image acquisition device. These determining means are known and do not require to be described here.

By way of example that is in no way limiting, FIG. 3 illustrates steps of an embodiment of a method for determining positions of the electronic detonators in a worksite using the firing system in accordance with the invention.

Of course, the positions of the electronic detonators may be obtained by different methods while using the firing system in accordance with the invention.

The method comprises a commanding step S1 in which a command is sent to a first electronic detonator 2.

In one embodiment, the command sent to an electronic detonator 2 is nominative, that is to say that it solely concerns that detonator 2. In other words, an electronic detonator receiving a nominative command concerning it responds to that command, the other detonators receiving that command not responding to the command.

In this embodiment, the electronic detonator 2 receiving this nominative command emits a signal, by means of the signaling device 10, indicating its presence at an emitting step S2.

In the described embodiment, a visible signal is emitted at the emitting step S2 by the signaling device 10, or light-emitting diode.

Thus, when the electronic detonator 2 receives a nominative command, the associated light-emitting diode 10 turns on at the emitting step S2.

Next, a step S3 of acquiring the signal emitted by the signaling device 10 is implemented. In the described embodiment, the acquisition comprises acquiring an image or several images of the worksite 100 in which the visible signals emitted by the light-emitting diodes are visible.

The steps of commanding S1, emitting a signal S2 and acquiring the emitted signal S3 are implemented for each of the electronic detonators 2 of the set.

In the described embodiment, a step S4 of determining the positions of the locations follows the acquiring step S3. The determining step S4 consists of detecting the turning on of a light-emitting diode 10 associated with an electronic detonator 2 and of determining the coordinates of the point of light in the acquired image.

Determining the position of a signaling device in an image is carried out using known methods of image processing.

At a checking step S5, it is checked that all the electronic detonators have been processed, that is to say that the steps of commanding S1, emitting S2, acquiring S3 and determining S4 have been implemented for each electronic detonator 2.

In this embodiment, the operations of commanding S1, emitting S2, acquiring S3 and determining S4 the position are spaced apart over time for each electronic detonator 2.

Thus, after implementing these operations for each electronic detonator 2, a set of images is obtained, the image coordinates relative to the location of each electronic detonator 2 being determined from each image. Therefore, after the step of determining the positions S5 a list of image coordinates is obtained.

In one embodiment, the image coordinates are y-coordinates and a location number is associated with each image coordinate. A list of location numbers is thus obtained.

For example the determined image coordinates can be those of a pixel that is the barycenter of the set of image pixels representing, in the image, the turned on light-emitting diode 10.

In one embodiment, the signaling device 10, here the light-emitting diode, is positioned at the location receiving the electronic detonator 2, such that the position of the signaling device 10 represents the position of the electronic detonator 2.

In another embodiment, the signaling devices associated with the electronic detonators are turned on substantially at the same time, either by a nominative command, or by a non-nominative command. In this embodiment, a single image or several images of the worksite are taken with the signaling devices emitting a signal.

In the case of a signaling device that is passive (or that comprises a passive device), a single image or several images of the worksite are taken with the signaling devices represented.

Thus, according to the embodiments, an image or several partial images of the worksite may be obtained by the image acquisition device, it being possible for a complete image to be reconstituted from the partial images obtained.

Obtaining the positions of each electronic detonator is similar to the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 3. 

1. Firing system comprising electronic detonators (2), comprising: signaling devices (10), each signaling device (10) being associated with an electronic detonator (2) and making it possible to signal the presence of the electronic detonator (2) with which said signaling device is associated and an image acquisition device (20) designed and positioned for acquiring images representing signaling devices (10).
 2. The firing system in accordance with claim 1, said signaling device (10) comprises an active device emitting a signal indicating the presence of the electronic detonator (2) with which said signaling device is associated.
 3. The firing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said signaling device (10) emits a visible signal.
 4. The firing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said active device is an infrared emitter.
 5. The firing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said signaling device (10) comprises a passive device comprising identification information of the associated electronic detonator (2).
 6. The firing system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said passive device comprises a barcode.
 7. The firing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each signaling device (10) is connected to conducting wires (5) connecting the electronic detonator (2) with which said signaling device is associated, to a firing line (3).
 8. The firing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each signaling device is positioned on a module associated with the electronic detonator with which said signaling device is associated, said module being external to the electronic detonator.
 9. The firing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said signaling device (10) comprises a passive device comprising identification information of the associated electronic detonator (2).
 10. The firing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said signaling device (10) comprises a passive device comprising identification information of the associated electronic detonator (2).
 11. The firing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said signaling device (10) comprises a passive device comprising identification information of the associated electronic detonator (2).
 12. The firing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein each signaling device (10) is connected to conducting wires (5) connecting the electronic detonator (2) with which said signaling device is associated, to a firing line (3).
 13. The firing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein each signaling device (10) is connected to conducting wires (5) connecting the electronic detonator (2) with which said signaling device is associated, to a firing line (3).
 14. The firing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein each signaling device (10) is connected to conducting wires (5) connecting the electronic detonator (2) with which said signaling device is associated, to a firing line (3).
 15. The firing system in accordance with claim 5, wherein each signaling device (10) is connected to conducting wires (5) connecting the electronic detonator (2) with which said signaling device is associated, to a firing line (3).
 16. The firing system in accordance with claim 6, wherein each signaling device (10) is connected to conducting wires (5) connecting the electronic detonator (2) with which said signaling device is associated, to a firing line (3).
 17. The firing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein each signaling device is positioned on a module associated with the electronic detonator with which said signaling device is associated, said module being external to the electronic detonator.
 18. The firing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein each signaling device is positioned on a module associated with the electronic detonator with which said signaling device is associated, said module being external to the electronic detonator.
 19. The firing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein each signaling device is positioned on a module associated with the electronic detonator with which said signaling device is associated, said module being external to the electronic detonator.
 20. The firing system in accordance with claim 5, wherein each signaling device is positioned on a module associated with the electronic detonator with which said signaling device is associated, said module being external to the electronic detonator. 